By Lucy Waldron
Sitting among the picturesque scenery of the Glen Aplin region is a new disability friendly cabin at Glen Lough Cabins.
This was something that had been on the drawing board for a long time but Covid-19, planning and extra costs delayed the process.
Owners of Glen Lough Cabins, Pat and Sheila O’Boyle were motivated to put in a facility that made it easier for people to move around after a friend’s visit.
“We have two friends who both have MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and one of them came to visit just after we bought the property,“ she said.
“He said he loved it but could not get around too well. Pat and I thought that it would be lovely if people who had a disability could come and just enjoy what we call our little slice of heaven as much as we do,” Sheila said.
The disability cabin has been designed to be wheelchair friendly, with a spacious wet room that accommodates wheelchairs, an open plan design to allow easy manoeuvrability and grab rails in the bathroom area.
Outside, the deck is wide enough for comfortable wheelchair access so everyone can relax and enjoy the scenic views and wildlife. Convenient parking spaces are available near the cabin, with a ramp and tactile paving for easy access.
The cabin’s electrical systems have been optimised for ease of use, including the installation of large light switches for enhanced usability. A specially designed door ensures easy entry.
Sheila and Pat strongly believe in the importance of offering inclusive facilities like the cabin without charging additional fees so that everyone can have the same opportunity to enjoy the property without any financial barriers.
The getaway has already shown that it’s going to be popular. The cabin was opened for business on Wednesday 19 July and had a disabled guest by Friday.
Sheila said the positive feedback received from guests had been overwhelming, with one guest’s wife commenting on social media that they had stayed in numerous disability cabins but have never encountered one as exceptional as theirs. Another guest said that trying to find another one as good as this would be an almost impossible task.
Having a disability shouldn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a memorable getaway. At Glen Lough, it doesn’t. And people are already appreciating that fact.
